Two dead in Gaza from Israeli fire after explosion

Witnesses say Saturday's clash began when an explosion hit an Israeli military vehicle on the Israel-Gaza border. The military then responded with tank and machine gun fire against Gaza, they said. Ayman Al Sahbani, a doctor at Gaza's Shifa hospital, say the wounded have been evacuated to hospital.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

Clashes are common in the border area. Gaza militants fire rockets from there toward nearby Israeli communities.

Israel carried out a broad military offensive in Gaza nearly four years ago in response to years of rocket fire. Major salvos from Gaza have largely subsided since then, though sporadic violence persists.